The Farmingdale-Bethpage
community is one of the oldest on Long Island. The first non-native
settler, Thomas Powell, arrived in 1687. In 1695 he purchased a 15
square mile tract of land known as the Bethpage Purchase
from three Native American tribes. For a century and a half, Powell
descendants and fellow Quakers were virtually the only inhabitants.

The
rest is history. That history and the opportunity to explore the changes that
have taken place through the years in story, picture, educational games
and more is what this site is about. Some of the items described in
greater detail include:

Bethpage
State Park
was established in 1932 and in 2002 its Black Golf Course became the
first public course to host the U.S. Open Golf Tournament.

The
Long Island Railroad
was extended eastward to Farmingdale in 1841 and had major impact on
the area.It continues to be
an engine for Farmingdale৲owth.

Farmingdale
State College,
Long Island঩rst institution of higher learning was established
in 1912.It is no longer an
agricultural college, but, continues to grow and evolve and has a
major influence on the area.

Major
Aircraft Industry was established in the
Farmingdale-Bethpage area after World War I and had major impact
during World War II and beyond.Grumman,
Republic and Fairchild are just a few of the major firms that
started here.

Other
topics of interest within this site, most of which change on a regular
basis, include

:

A
Then
and Now page where visitors are invited to view sites as
they looked THEN. Visitors are invited to locate and name the site in the
photos.Byclicking on the NOW button they get a side by side comparison
of Then And Now.

An
About Us page which contains a listing of the officers
and trustees, the mission of the historical society and an
application for membership.